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Comment by dbbk | Hacker News Reader

There's not even any plans to offer vaccines privately in the UK yet. The NHS isn't going to offer it to travellers.

Not NHS, but what’s stopping private companies from purchasing from pfizer at 10x markup and selling to willing customers?

Doubt Pfizer has much spare stock just sitting around at this point, and also I’m guessing you’d need an import license for it. But I’d imagine once there’s plenty to go around you’ll absolutely start to see private offerings.

They could theoretically try to order it I suppose, but they're going to be at the end of a very long backlog.

Do we actually know all the details of who they’ve contracted with? I wouldn’t be surprised if private healthcare providers in the UK already got their place in line.

I'd be somewhat surprised. In Ireland this year the _flu_ vaccine wasn't generally available privately, as the HSE took all available supply. Health authorities should be expected to be even more aggressive with covid vaccines.

I don't think private parties will have any access to vaccine for a while.

Can you imagine the shit storm if some wealth person got vaccinated ahead of the doctors treating dying Covid patients. Ain't gonna happen.

> Can you imagine the shit storm if some wealthy person got vaccinated ahead of the doctors

In an ideal world, I suppose not. But, in the real world, I think I can. Yes.

I've already heard stories about people in both China and Russia using bribes/connections to get themselves or relatives into vaccine trials. In particular, the Chinese military has been vaccinating its own since June.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/covid-vaccine-approved-milita...

Not really bribes, just go to the Taihe Hospital in Beijing and pay to be vaccinated. The Chinese are more laid back about regulating stuff. https://time.com/5902646/china-covid-19-vaccine/

It sounds like in some countries, the rich will be able to get the vaccine ahead of official channels - eg. https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/uae-team-emirates-...

On the contrary, vaccinations started early in November in the UAE. They are using the weaker Chinese vaccine though.

This kind of egregious injustice happens daily.

This will, too.

Well celebrities were tested before frontline workers.

The production so far has been funded through government contracts.

Some time in the future - maybe nothing. Right now - all current and future doses for many months (if not years) are accounted for in existing contracts. Selling the doses to private parties, especially at 10x markup would be a huge PR disaster and invitation to AGs to open investigations.

Pfizer's production is ordered for months out.

I would be gobsmacked if it isn’t available privately. I’m sure someone is planning it.

I’d guess that wide spread availability privately will coincide with when the highest risk groups have been vaccinated and then the government will say it’s “only right and proper” that people who aren’t very much at risk, who “can pay, should pay” rather than “burdening” the NHS and timed that they won’t look too callous.

Why would they do that? If they are providing it free to those at high risk, why not provide it free to those at low risk? Why would they charge for this particular treatment when all other treatments are free? How could they ensure those who are poor and cannot afford to pay still get vaccinated?

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